THE full-time national serviceman had completed six chin-ups on his own. With some help, the 20-year-old tried to pull his chin above the bar for a seventh time.
He did not make it and collapsed.

Private Joe Foo Wei Rong never regained consciousness after his fall at 6.05am in Lim Chu Kang camp yesterday.

According to the Defence Ministry (Mindef), he received immediate medical attention, but was pronounced dead in hospital at about 8.30am.

Mindef said the soldier from the 4th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment was doing his basic exercise routine when the incident occurred.

The Straits Times understands that the day started like any other for Pte Foo, who joined the unit a week ago after completing basic military training.

With about 30 platoon mates, he went through the daily exercises - sit-ups, leg thrusts, crunches and push-ups.

The chin-ups were at the tail end of the half-hour routine, designed to gear them up for the day's rigours.

When Pte Foo collapsed, a medic tried to resuscitate him. An automated external defibrillator - a device that shocks the heart back into its regular rhythm - was also used, to no avail.

Doctors attempted to revive him at the Tengah Medical Centre nearby, and then at the National University Hospital (NUH).

They failed.

Pte Foo enlisted in July after clearing all pre-enlistment medical checks, including a resting electrocardiogram, which records the electrical activity of the heart.

He was certified combat fit with the highest grading of Physical Employment Status A. He also attained the second highest silver standard in his physical fitness test. The basic exercises he was performing yesterday morning are not considered strenuous military training.

Associate Professor Tan Huay Cheem, who heads the cardiac department at NUH, said an activity need not be physically intense to 'trigger' sudden death when there are underlying factors present.

These could include cardiac conditions like viral myocarditis, which is when the heart is infected and weakened by a viral attack like flu.

As Mindef investigates, one question likely to surface is whether Pte Foo had underlying medical conditions that were not detected or declared.

Contacted yesterday, his father told The Straits Times that his son had suffered a seizure in 2004, and had collapsed at home.

And on Sunday, he added, his son was given three days of medical leave by a public hospital doctor for a hamstring strain.

It is not clear at this time whether Pte Foo had submitted the medical certificate or alerted anyone at camp about his injury or past seizure.

Asked about this, Mindef said it was in close contact with his family and would 'thoroughly investigate their concerns'.

Note: News taken from http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_284682.html

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Nowadays, sudden deaths tends to struck us more, no one knows why. It just adds an unknown factor to how long you live. So why not just live life fullest and not letting this kinda fear overwhelm you.

Since it is unpredictable, there is no way you could have prevented it. It is just like the death lord suddenly say "HELLO!" and take your soul with him. You cant do anything about that! Only your determination and will to live will prevent him from taking you away.

So.. dont think so much la.. Enjoy life to the fullest kaes people :)